THE SEA MOUSE

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 33, 2 November 1929, Page 28

THE SEA MOUSE

Of course you all know the little furry house-mouse that- flits, about like a small shadow when all the house is still, and the little field mouse, but did you know that there was a sea-mouse? He is not exactly like his land namesakes, but was given the name of mouse because of his hairy coat which has b’eauties at which people marveL Wondrous hues'of ruby,. emerald, sapphire and. every imaginable gem flash from this little living rainbow. Perhaps 'the .little sea-mouse had. to make its own brightness for it never sees the sun. It passes its life under stones, shells and other things at the bottom of the sea. • ' The little house-mouse, the fieldmouse and the dormouse all breathe through their noses like well-behaved little ■ creatures, but the sea-mouse is quite different. Here is a very peculiar thing. He hasn’t a nose. Under mil the radiant shaded hairs," there are tiny scales, and if you watched ever ■so carefully, you'would see them rise and fall gently. The sea-mouse 'breathes through his scales. He is very particular about them too, and to keep them'clear and clean, he keeps a 'little coat of a fine felt-like'substance them and the world. He is a strange and interesting fellow J ,